Lincoln Penny Will Get New Design

The 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln is expected to pave the way for a series of one-cent coins to honor the martyred 16th president from the nation's Midwest.

Legislation calling for the honor in 2009 was given final congressional approval last night by the House and it is expected to be signed by President Bush.

The Senate -- where sponsors included Illinoisans Dick Durbin and Barack Obama -- passed the legislation last month.

The redesigned pennies are to feature four designs on the reverse side of the coins, with the first one depicting his Kentucky birthplace, the second his youth in Indiana, and the final two his professional life in Illinois and presidency in Washington.